rritru ta t4r altar.
ORDER OF BUSINESS IN TIIE NOUSE OF COMMONS.
London, 8th April 1851.
Sin—There are a number of Secondary Measures (of great national im- portance in the aggregate) constantly before Parliament, which are delayed by the Great Questions on which the magnate politicians delight to dwell ; but while they rejoice in the conflicts of eloquence and of party, smaller folks are suffering pecuniary loss, anxiety, and suspense.
By a simple application of the rule relative to the conduct of Private Business, which takes place at a certain early hour at the beginning of each night's sitting, and of the rule relative to Wednesday's morning sittings, which terminate at six precisely, everybody would be benefited.
After Private Business and the nightly interrogatories, let the Secondary Measures have place till eight o'clock, at which hour let the Speaker stop the discussion whatever it may be ; and if it have terminated earlier, ad- journ till eight o'clock ; after which let the great talk be taken. The effect upon the progress of the real business of the nation would be greater than I think it safe to state, lest I should be thought to exaggerate the importance of this suggestion. The suitors of the Legislature, and those Members who from taste or a sense of responsibility care about useful measures, would be relieved from much useless care and toil. Instead of preparing needlessly for questions which will not come on, then giving up thought of them in despair, and finally disposing of them as it were by chance or by a scramble, the Business Bills would come on nearly with the same regularity as Private Business, would make progress par passu, and would be carefully considered at due intervals, without that hurry and confusiou which at present make it im- possible to legislate decently.
The expedient is so direct, effective, and simple, that one wonders it has not occurred to us before.
A PARLIAMENTARY SUFFERER.
Previous page
